Dieckol Reduces Muscle Atrophy by Modulating Angiotensin Type II Type 1 Receptor and NADPH Oxidase in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

The renin-angiotensin system is involved in the development of hypertension and sarcopenia. Increased levels of angiotensin II (Ang II) lead to upregulation of Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R), which results in increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) by NAD(P)H oxidase (Nox). Increased ROS led to increased helper T17 (Th17) and decreased regulatory T (Treg) cells through HIF-1α.

Psychiatric symptoms mediate the effect of resilience on health-related quality of life in patients with breast cancer: Longitudinal examination.

Objective: Patients with breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy are at increased risk of poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study examined clinical caseness on depression and anxiety mediate the relationship between resilience and HRQOL in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: A total of 193 patients with breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy completed questionnaires including the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast before the first session (T0), before the start of the last session (T1), and 6 months after the end (T2) of chemotherapy.

Easy and effective analytical method of carbendazim, dimethomorph, and fenoxanil from Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis using LC-MS/MS.

Traditionally in Korea, Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (white-spotted flower chafer) has been used as a medicine, and recently has attracted increased attention due to its antithrombotic efficacy. Some of spent mushroom compost or fermented oak sawdust, a feedstock for P. brevitarsis, were contaminated with three fungicides, carbendazim, dimethomorph, and fenoxanil, which could be transferred to the insect.

Evaluating Whether Radiofrequency Irradiation Attenuated UV-B-Induced Skin Pigmentation by Increasing Melanosomal Autophagy and Decreasing Melanin Synthesis.

Autophagy is involved in the degradation of melanosomes and the determination of skin color. TLR4 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling upregulates NF-kB expression, which is involved in the upregulation of mTOR. The activation of mTOR by UV-B exposure results in decreased autophagy, whereas radiofrequency (RF) irradiation decreases TLR4 and TNF receptor (TNFR) expression.

High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and the Risk of Future Retinal Artery Occlusion Development: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and the future risk of retinal artery occlusion (RAO).

Design: Population-based cohort study.

Methods: This study used data provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service.

Aspiration-mediated hydrogel micropatterning using rail-based open microfluidic devices for high-throughput 3D cell culture.

Microfluidics offers promising methods for aligning cells in physiologically relevant configurations to recapitulate human organ functionality. Specifically, microstructures within microfluidic devices facilitate 3D cell culture by guiding hydrogel precursors containing cells. Conventional approaches utilize capillary forces of hydrogel precursors to guide fluid flow into desired areas of high wettability.

Patent challenges and factors associated with successful patent challengers under the patent linkage system: recent evidence from South Korea after the Korea United States free trade agreement.

Objectives: The patent linkage system upgraded patent challenges to an important factor in granting timely market approval for generic drugs. We aim to understand patent challenges and identify the factors that are associated with successful patent challengers under the patent linkage system in South Korea.

Methods: We constructed a novel dataset that combined information on manufacturers with detailed data about their patent challenges after introduction of the patent linkage system.

Functional Impairments in the Mental Health, Depression and Anxiety Related to the Viral Epidemic, and Disruption in Healthcare Service Utilization among Cancer Patients in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era.

Purpose: Literature is scarce regarding cancer care utilization during the massive outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Republic of Korea. We investigated functional impairments in mental health and their relationships with depression, anxiety regarding the viral epidemic, and disruptions in healthcare service utilization among cancer patients in the COVID-19 pandemic era.

Materials And Methods: We used an online survey with questions related to the disturbances faced by patients with cancer in utilizing healthcare services in the pandemic era.

Dieckol-Attenuated High-Fat Diet Induced Muscle Atrophy by Modulating Muscular Deposition of Lipid Droplets.

An excessive fat diet induces intramuscular fat deposition that accumulates as a form of lipid droplet (LD) and leads to lipotoxicity, including muscle atrophy or decreasing muscle strength. Lipotoxicity depends on the number of LDs, subcellular distribution (intermyofibrillar, IMF, LDs or subsarcolemmal, SS), and fiber type-specific differences (type I or type II fiber) as well as the size of LD. extracts (ECE), which is known to increase peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α), which leads to decreasing expression level of perilipin2 (PLIN2).

Plasmonic Enhancement of Chiroptical Property in Enantiomers Using a Helical Array of Magnetoplasmonic Nanoparticles for Ultrasensitive Chiral Recognition.

Recognition of enantiomeric molecules is essential in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. In this Article, a novel approach is introduced to monitor chiral molecules via a helical magnetic field (), where chiral-inactive magnetoplasmonic nanoparticles (MagPlas NPs, Ag@FeO core-shell NPs) are assembled into helical nanochain structures to be chiral-active. An in-house generator of -induced chiral NP assembly, that is, a plasmonic chirality enhancer (PCE), is newly fabricated to enhance the circular dichroism (CD) signals from chiral plasmonic interaction of the helical nanochain assembly with circularly polarized light, reaching a limit of detection (LOD) of 10 M, a 1000-fold enhancement as compared to that of conventional CD spectrometry.

Dieckol Decreases Caloric Intake and Attenuates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Hepatic Lymphatic Vessel Dysfunction in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Mice.

Increased inflammation is the main pathophysiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Inflammation affects lymphatic vessel function that contributes to the removal of immune cells or macromolecules. Dysfunctional lymphatic vessels with decreased permeability are present in NAFLD.

Effects of different definitions of low muscle mass on its association with metabolic syndrome in older adults: A Korean nationwide study.

Aim: We aimed to investigate the association between low muscle mass (LMM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) according to the definition of LMM.

Methods: This study used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 2008 to 2011. We used appendicular skeletal muscle adjusted for height (ASM/Ht ) and weight (ASM/Wt) as definitions of LMM.

Suture granuloma with hydronephrosis caused by ileostomy closure after rectal cancer surgery: a case report.

Background: Suture granuloma with hydronephrosis after abdominal surgery is extremely rare. We herein report a successfully treated case of suture granuloma with hydronephrosis caused by ileostomy closure after rectal cancer surgery.

Case Presentation: A 63-year-old male underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection with covering ileostomy.

Effects of menopausal hormone therapy on ambulatory blood pressure and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal Korean women with grade 1 hypertension: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Estrogen therapy in early menopausal women decreases the risk of coronary heart disease and parenteral, but not oral, estrogen is reported to reduce blood pressure (BP). Progestogens are typically added to estrogens to prevent unopposed endometrial stimulation. The effects of progestogen on BP have been less well studied to date.

How can we improve patients' access to new drugs under uncertainties? : South Korea's experience with risk sharing arrangements.

Background: New drugs including cancer drugs and orphan drugs are becoming increasingly more expensive. Risk sharing arrangements (RSAs) could manage the risk based on both financial impact and the health outcome of new drugs if reimbursed. To improve patients' access to new drugs under uncertainties, many developed countries have adopted RSAs.

OCULAR MANIFESTATIONS OF ASP38ALA AND THR59LYS FAMILIAL TRANSTHYRETIN AMYLOIDOSIS.

Purpose: To describe the ophthalmic manifestations of familial transthyretin amyloidosis (FTA) mutations, including Asp38Ala and Thr59Lys, which have not been previously reported to have ocular involvement.

Methods: This is an observational case series of prospectively collected data of 16 patients with FTA who were taking tafamidis for mild peripheral neuropathy and underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination at a single tertiary center, between January 2013 and March 2020. The ocular involvement of each FTA mutation type and the specific manifestations were the main outcome measures.

Effective and rugged analysis of glyphosate, glufosinate, and metabolites in Tenebrio molitor larva (mealworms) using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Tenebrio molitor larva (mealworms) has recently attracted attention as a protein source for food and feed. The larva is generally fed with wheat bran, which can be possibly contaminated with glyphosate. To establish food safe standards, a rugged and effective analytical method for glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid, glufosinate, and their metabolites including 3-methylphosphinico-propionic acid, and N-acetyl glufosinate, in mealworms was optimized using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Development of a Multi-Layer Skin Substitute Using Human Hair Keratinic Extract-Based Hybrid 3D Printing.

Large-sized or deep skin wounds require skin substitutes for proper healing without scar formation. Therefore, multi-layered skin substitutes that mimic the genuine skin anatomy of multiple layers have attracted attention as suitable skin substitutes. In this study, a novel skin substitute was developed by combining the multi-layer skin tissue reconstruction method with the combination of a human-derived keratinic extract-loaded nano- and micro-fiber using electrospinning and a support structure using 3D printing.

Effect of Different Software Programs on the Accuracy of Dental Scanner Using Three-Dimensional Analysis.

This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the 3D analysis for complete arch, half arch, and tooth preparation region by using four analysis software programs. The CAD reference model (CRM; N = 1 per region) and CAD test models (CTMs; N = 20 per software) of complete arch, half arch, and tooth preparation were obtained by using scanners. For both CRM and CTMs, mesh data other than the same area were deleted.

Comparison of Intaglio Surface Trueness of Interim Dental Crowns Fabricated with SLA 3D Printing, DLP 3D Printing, and Milling Technologies.

This study aimed to evaluate the intaglio surface trueness of interim dental crowns fabricated with three 3-dimensional (3D) printing and milling technologies. Dental crown was designated and assigned as a computer-aided design (CAD) reference model (CRM). Interim dental crowns were fabricated based on CRM using two types of 3D printer technologies (stereolithography apparatus and digital light processing) and one type of milling machine ( = 15 per technology).

Novel Anti-Fungal d-Laminaripentaose-Releasing Endo-β-1,3-glucanase with a RICIN-like Domain from HY-13.

Endo-β-1,3-glucanase plays an essential role in the deconstruction of β-1,3-d-glucan polysaccharides through hydrolysis. The gene (1650-bp) encoding a novel, bi-modular glycoside hydrolase family 64 (GH64) endo-β-1,3-glucanase (GluY) with a ricin-type β-trefoil lectin domain (RICIN)-like domain from HY-13 was identified and biocatalytically characterized. The recombinant enzyme (rGluY: 57.

Survey of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in wild boar in the Republic of Korea.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is caused by Dabie bandavirus that belongs to the genus Bandavirus in the family Phenuiviridae and order Bunyavirales and is transmitted by hard ticks. It has been detected in several tick species, various animals, and humans. The purpose of this study was to detect SFTS virus (SFTSV) antigen and antibody in wild boar in the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Declined incidence of patients treated for vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy in South Korea: a 12-year nationwide population-based study.

Purpose: To determine the age- and sex-specific annual incidence rates of patients treated for VTDR and the factors associated with increased treatment rates in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in South Korea.

Methods: This was a nationwide, retrospective, 12-year, population-based study. Patients aged over 30 years who were diagnosed with T2DM between 2006 and 2017 were included in this study.

ensembleTax: an R package for determinations of ensemble taxonomic assignments of phylogenetically-informative marker gene sequences.

Background: High-throughput sequencing of phylogenetically informative marker genes is a widely used method to assess the diversity and composition of microbial communities. Taxonomic assignment of sampled marker gene sequences (referred to as amplicon sequence variants, or ASVs) imparts ecological significance to these genetic data. To assign taxonomy to an ASV, a taxonomic assignment algorithm compares the ASV to a collection of reference sequences (a reference database) with known taxonomic affiliations.